Patient Stories

When Louie Mejia learned that he had kidney disease, it caught him completely off guard. It was 2020, and he already was living with diabetes and high blood pressure. He had routine labs and bloodwork done, but for unknown reasons was not alerted that there were concerning results related to his kidneys. A year later, when Mejia‘s doctor told him his kidneys were failing, his response was one of surprise and confusion. 

Nanette and Rick Zumwalt hosted a gala in October 2022 to support UCLA's CORE Kidney Health Program, which focuses on clinical excellence, outreach, research, and education. The event, attended by friends, family, and UCLA staff, raised over $190,000. The program, led by Dr. Anjay Rastogi, aims to raise kidney disease awareness and provide resources. The fundraising goal was to establish a CORE Kidney Center for comprehensive kidney care. The Zumwalts, inspired by Nanette's PKD diagnosis, aim to annually promote awareness about the program and kidney diseases, given that PKD affects about 600,000 people in the US and is a significant cause of kidney failure.

It was during an ordinary visit to her optometrist that a flicker of hope ignited within Paula. Amidst the gentle swirls of my cornea, he spotted something out of place and whispered the name of a rare condition – Fabry’s disease. However, despite his subtle suggestion, it would take two long years and a referral to an ophthalmologist before she found myself standing on the threshold of a diagnosis. Learn more about Paula's story below! 

Lewis Simon's family has a history of Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease (ADPKD). He was diagnosed with ADPKD at age 10, which sparked an interest in kidney health research. When his father's condition worsened, Lewis' mother miraculously donated a kidney, thanks to Dr. Anjay Rastogi's expertise, leading to a successful transplant at UCLA. Nearly a decade later, Lewis met Dr. Rastogi and began participating in ADPKD clinical trails. Dr. Rastogi's unwavering care and support made him not only their doctor but also their friend. Remarkably, Lewis discovered that Dr. Rastogi had been the transplant physician for his parent's surgery years before they met. Now, as a Master's student in Applied Epidemiology, Lewis volunteers in Dr. Rastogi's office research office, focusing on kidney disease research and support. Lewis is also a proud Green Ribbon Campaign ambassador, advocating for kidney disease awareness and support.

Larry (68) and Lisa (64) Lewinson, a married couple from the South Bay, both participated in the non-directed paired kidney transplant exchange program in 2022. Sharing five children and thirteen grandchildren together, the couple spends their free time attending car shows, and traveling all over the world. An active part of the CIRCLE of CORE, both Lisa and Larry will continue to share their story with the hopes to give back to others around them. By sharing their experience, they hope to reduce any concerns regarding the process of kidney transplant through the eyes of both a donor and recipient, and continue spreading optimism and positivity.

Colleen Flanary's daughter, Caitlin, was diagnosed with polycystic kidney disease (PKD), which was a new mutation in her case. Knowing that she might not be able to donate her kidney due to age restrictions, Colleen decided to become educated about kidney disease and was open to donating to someone in need. When she learned about the kidney voucher program, she was thrilled. This program allowed Colleen to donate her kidney while still within the suitable age range to help a stranger, and Caitlin would receive a voucher for a future kidney transplant. Under the care of Dr. Rastogi at UCLA, Colleen successfully donated her kidney in 2018, and had the opportunity to meet the recipient and her family. This experience profoundly impacted Colleen's life, and she praised the excellent care.

Ravi was diagnosed with FSGS at 5 years old and has been working with nephrologists his whole life, he always knew that at some point he would require dialysis and a transplant. He moved to Los Angeles in 2016 after spending the past 12 years in Hong Kong and working himself into the ICU. He came to Los Angeles, to take a breather, focus on my health, go back to college and re-evaluate life.

Sou was a dialysis patient, a peritoneal dialysis nurse and a kidney transplant recipient. With the encouragement of Dr. Rastogi, his research team, and his peritoneal dialysis team she started listing myself at multiple transplant centers with the hope to one day get a kidney transplant.